Sandibe Safari Lodge

Sandibe Safari Lodge

Sandibe Safari Lodge is set on a permanent channel of the magnificent Okavango Delta, adjacent to the game-rich Moremi Wildlife Reserve on a 270 square kilometre (104 square mile) private concession.

The beautiful thatched lodge nestles between permanent water and grass-swept plains and was built with a commitment to “treading lightly on the earth”. Sandibe is surrounded by an abundant array of wildlife and throughout the year, guests are enchanted by the changing moods of the Delta. Through exhilarating game-drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles and interpretive bush walks, s professional guides share the wonder of this wetland wilderness.

Sandibe guest lodge has eight deluxe thatched cottages that are positioned to capture the presence of special trees and natural features such as a vast termite mound, a river inlet or an age-old elephant crossing point. The cottages have en suite bathrooms, open showers and private decks. The elevated game-viewing decks of each cottage overlook the Santantebi River.

Built with a commitment to “treading lightly on the earth,” Sandibe’s architecture evokes the earthy, organic, living forest. No trees were sacrificed in the building of the lodge; instead, cottages were built in a natural clearing. Any saplings that needed removing were carefully transplanted into the surrounding forest.

The spacious rooms are decorated in a rich fusion of ochre and tactile textiles like silk and leather, and feature woven mats, copper and rough-hewn wood. A quiet generator, solar power and absence of air-conditioners means that your comfort is ensured without interfering with the environment and the area’s natural tranquility.

The lounge and dining areas are in the heart of the camp, tucked under a soaring canopy of trees. Shaded decks slung with hammocks afford views across the watery labyrinth and grassland. Sandibe has a shaded swimming pool and well stocked curio shop. The communal areas face into the sunset. The meandering paths of the camp are those used by elephant and wildlife for hundreds of years.

Sandibe has a candelabra-illuminated, low-walled half boma (enclosed reeded area) and a custom-designed charcoal-cooled wine cellar. In the boma at night, numerous candles and an open fire cast a golden light onto dining tables and leaf-strewn forest floor. Your own private verandah provides a romantic setting for intimate candlelit dinners.

Activities at Sandibe include twice daily game drives in open 4×4 game-viewing vehicles, bush walks, river cruises in a unique electrically powered boat, fishing, mekoro (dugout canoe) excursions in the Delta, bush breakfasts, elegant bush dinners and bird watching. Night game drives are a highlight as they afford guests an opportunity to see the lesser known but interesting nocturnal animals of the Delta.